Wax warmers

Abstract

According to one aspect, a wax warmer includes a body to support a reservoir adapted to receive a wax melt. The wax warmer also includes a heater having a first heating state to heat the wax melt from a first temperature below a melting point of the wax melt to a second temperature above the melting point of the wax melt in a predetermined amount of time. The heater has a second heating state to substantially maintain the wax melt within a temperature range above the melting point of the wax melt.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A wax warmer, comprising:
 a body to support a reservoir adapted to receive a wax melt; and 
 an electrical circuit operatively coupled to the body to heat the wax melt from a first temperature below a melting point of the wax melt to a second temperature above the melting point of the wax melt, the electrical circuit having a first heating state and a second heating state, the electrical circuit in the first heating state having a first overall resistance, the electrical circuit in the second heating state having a second overall resistance greater than the first electrical resistance; 
 wherein the electrical circuit comprises a first resistor and a second resistor; and 
 wherein the first resistor is disposed in a first compartment of the housing, and the second resistor is disposed in a second compartment of the housing, the first and second compartments being defined by a barrier disposed therebetween to insulate the first resistor from the second resistor. 
 
     
     
       2. The wax warmer of  claim 1 , wherein the first resistor and the second resistor are connected in parallel. 
     
     
       3. The wax warmer of  claim 2  further comprising a switch connected in series with the second resistor. 
     
     
       4. The wax warmer of  claim 3  further comprising a temperature sensing device connected in series with the second resistor, the temperature sensing device to control the switch. 
     
     
       5. The wax warmer of  claim 4 , wherein the temperature sensing device comprises a bi-metal thermostat operatively coupled to the switch. 
     
     
       6. The wax warmer of  claim 4 , wherein the temperature sensing device comprises an actuator and a temperature sensor, the actuator operatively coupled to the switch. 
     
     
       7. The wax warmer of  claim 4 , wherein the temperature sensing device comprises an actuator and a timer, the actuator operatively coupled to the switch. 
     
     
       8. The wax warmer of  claim 1  further comprising a first plate to support the reservoir on the body, the first plate interposing the heater and the reservoir. 
     
     
       9. The wax warmer of  claim 8 , further comprising a second plate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the first plate coupled to the first side, the electrical circuit coupled to the second side, wherein the second plate has a greater heat transfer coefficient than the first plate. 
     
     
       10. The wax warmer of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical circuit comprises a switch and a temperature sensing device to control the switch, wherein the electrical circuit is to be in the first heating state when the switch is in a closed position, and wherein the electrical circuit is to be in the second heating state when the switch is in an open position. 
     
     
       11. The wax warmer of  claim 10 , wherein the first resistor and the second resistor are connected in parallel, and wherein the temperature sensing device, the switch, and the second resistor are connected in series. 
     
     
       12. The wax warmer of  claim 11 , wherein the electrical circuit comprises:
 a second switch; 
 a second temperature sensing device to control the second switch; and 
 a third resistor connected in parallel with the first resistor and the second resistor, the third resistor connected in series with the second switch and the second temperature sensing device. 
 
     
     
       13. A wax warmer, comprising:
 a body to support a reservoir adapted to receive a wax melt; 
 a heater including a first resistor and a second resistor, the heater having a first heating state to heat the wax melt from a first temperature below a melting point of the wax melt to a second temperature above the melting point of the wax melt in a predetermined amount of time, the heater having a second heating state with a greater overall resistance than the first heating state to substantially maintain the wax melt within a temperature range above the melting point of the wax melt; 
 wherein the first resistor is disposed in a first housing, and the second resistor is disposed in a second housing; and 
 wherein the first and second housings are substantially filled with insulation. 
 
     
     
       14. The wax warmer of  claim 13 , wherein the first temperature is about room temperature, the second temperature is between about 70 degrees Celsius to about 75 degrees Celsius, and the predetermined amount of time is between about 10 minutes to about 25 minutes. 
     
     
       15. The wax warmer of  claim 13  further comprising a processor including a timer, the processor to control a duration of time during which the heater is to receive power from a power supply. 
     
     
       16. The wax warmer of  claim 13 , wherein the heater comprises:
 the second resistor connected in parallel with the first resistor; 
 a switch connected in series with the second resistor; and 
 a thermostat to control the switch. 
 
     
     
       17. The wax warmer of  claim 13 , wherein the heater comprises:
 a switch connected in series with one of the first or second resistors; and 
 a processor to control the switch to employ pulse-width modulation to control an amount of heat generated by the resistor. 
 
     
     
       18. The wax warmer of  claim 13 , wherein a first plate interposes the heater and the reservoir. 
     
     
       19. The wax warmer of  claim 18  further comprising a second plate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the first plate coupled to the first side, the heater coupled to the second side, wherein the second plate has a greater heat transfer coefficient than the first plate.